South Carolina Legislature Faces Final Stretch: Abortion Bill Advances, Hemp Regulation Debated Ahead of June Primary

South Carolina Legislature Faces Final Stretch: Abortion Bill Advances, Hemp Regulation Debated Ahead of June Primary

From South Carolina News and Info Tracker by Inception Point Ai

April 23, 2026 · 3 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the South Carolina legislature's final session, focusing on abortion and hemp regulation debates ahead of the June primary.

South Carolina's state legislature is in the final stretch of its session, with heated debates dominating the State House. A restrictive abortion bill, S. 1095, advanced to the Senate floor after an 8-4 committee vote, despite opposition from GOP leaders like Senator Tom Davis, who called it a horrible message that fails to promote a culture of life, according to South Carolina Public Radio's State House Gavel. The measure, outlawing nearly all abortions without exceptions for rape or incest, faces steep odds with only 11 days left and Governor Henry McMaster backing the current six-week ban. Meanwhile, the House grapples with hemp regulation in H. 3924, as law enforcement groups like SLED urge concurrence on Senate amendments limiting THC products to behind-the-counter sales and age restrictions. The Senate confirmed key appointments, including Conway Belangia as State Election Commission director. Politics heats up with the second GOP gubernatorial debate in Charleston, where six candidates split on abortion—only Congressman Ralph Norman would sign the strict ban—while most rejected new hate crimes laws, per the State House Gavel. The June 9 primary looms. Economically, the SC…

Topics covered

  • abortion legislation
  • hemp regulation
  • South Carolina politics
  • gubernatorial debate
  • SNAP fraud prevention
  • economic trends

Keywords

  • South Carolina
  • abortion bill
  • hemp regulation
  • gubernatorial debate
  • SNAP
  • politics
  • Governor McMaster
  • Senator Davis
  • THC products
  • June primary

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: South Carolina Public Radio, SLED, SC Daily Gazette, WHHI-TV, Department of Social Services

Products: SNAP, THC products

Books & works: State House Gavel

Places: South Carolina

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